Ban Says U.N. Will Take Leading Role In Ebola Response

Sep 18, 2014

News outlets report on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement ahead of high-level meetings that the U.N. will take a stronger leadership role in efforts to contain Ebola.

New York Times: U.N. Leader Plans Stronger Presence in Ebola Zone
“The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said on Wednesday that he planned to establish a new on-the-ground mission in West Africa to coordinate the struggle against Ebola, a move that signaled his concern with the response so far and the limitations of the World Health Organization’s abilities. … Mr. Ban is scheduled to address a Security Council meeting devoted to Ebola on Thursday afternoon and said he was hoping to convene a special General Assembly session on Friday…” (Sengupta et al., 9/17).

U.N. News Centre: Ban welcomes U.S. support in Ebola response ahead of Security Council emergency session on outbreak
“Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, together with the head of the United Nations health agency, will outline the international action plan to contain Ebola [Thursday] when the Security Council convenes an emergency meeting on the outbreak…” (9/17).

VOA News: Ban: U.N. ‘Taking Lead’ on Ebola Response
“U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations is ‘taking the lead’ in efforts to combat the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. … The [U.N. Security Council] is due to vote [Thursday] on a U.S.-drafted resolution calling on member states to quickly send aid, field hospitals, and health workers to affected countries and lift travel restrictions to those areas…” (9/17).